The University of Agriculture Faisalabad (UAF), Northwest A&F University (NWAFU), China, and the Silk-Road Biohealth Agricultural Industry Alliance have committed to strengthening collaboration in agriculture, education, and research to tackle pressing challenges such as climate change and soil degradation.
The pledge came during a meeting between a Chinese delegation, led by NWAFU Chairman Prof Zhang Lixin and Principal Member Prof Sun Daoyang, and senior UAF faculty, including deans and directors.
Prof Zhang highlighted NWAFU’s status as China’s most comprehensive agricultural university, with over 36,000 students, advanced research in organic fertilisers, and the development of 19 heat-tolerant wheat varieties. He commended UAF’s role in agricultural innovation and cultural exchange through its Confucius Institute.
UAF officials, including Dean of Agriculture Dr Ghulam Murtaza, Principal Officer (Academic, Teaching, Research and Innovation) Dr Rao Zahid Abbas, and Director (Research, Innovation, and Commercialisation) Dr Imran Arshad, briefed the delegation on ongoing projects and achievements. Dr Arshad noted that UAF maintains 40 active MoUs with Chinese institutions, with 87 faculty members trained in China. The university also offers Chinese language courses, holds 26 registered patents, and has signed 506 MoUs worldwide.
Dr Murtaza stressed the urgency of joint efforts to combat soil degradation and mitigate climate change impacts. Dr Rao Zahid further highlighted that the Chinese Academy of Sciences has recognised UAF’s Pakistan Veterinary Journal as the top publication in its field.
The visit reaffirmed both institutions’ commitment to deepening China-Pakistan academic and agricultural ties under the Belt and Road (BRI) framework.
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